I'm new- Please help me- all advice welcome...

May 28, 2004

HI- I do not know if I have RA or not. My bloodwork came back today

and did not indicate positive for whatever it is they were measuring

so it did not say I had RA or lupus which is what the docs were

looking for. I certainly did not want to hear I had these

conditions but I swear I am losing my mind right now. I am 29yrs

old, female, great shape, good health until recently. About 1.5

years ago, during a normal health check up, I showed my doc that one

of my fingers was red and swollen. It did not hurt so it did not

concern either of us. I have since had a couple other fingers that

swell but seem to resolve themselves w/o any big problems. Then I

started running about a year ago (I used to run when I was younger

too) and did great up until October of last year. I had major knee

pain. I went to a PT for sports med thinking it was running related

but nothing showed up on xray except for swelling so he showed me

some stretches and said I should be fine in a week. WEll, I could

not run due to pain for 2.5 months. Then I started to run again. I

did awesome. Built my mileage up over 5 months to 12miles and felt

great! Then one morning I woke up and my knee and hip hurt. That

was 10 weeks ago, and now I not only can't run but I walk with a

noticeable limp. It is now a dull, sometimes throbbing pain in my

other knee and my hip and sometimes my ankles. I feel like an old

lady! I cannot carry my son up the stairs due to pain. My doctor

gave me Baltrex for inflammation and pain which helps but even w/

the meds I still feel old. I am also terribly fatigued and getting

depressed. I was hoping the blood results would indicate

SOMETHING! I honestly feel like this all might be in my head! My

doc thinks I do have RA by symptomsand is recommending I see a

rheumatologist but where I live it will be 3-4months to get an

appointment. The doc said some people who have RA do not test pos.

on blood tests. Please tell me what you all think- I am desperate

for help...

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